# Ep. 34: Is Venmo Putting Your Church At Risk?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/distilled-church-finance-made-simple-7726670/ep-34-is-venmo-putting-your-church-at-risk
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/distilled-church-finance-made-simple-7726670/ep-34-is-venmo-putting-your-church-at-risk.md
Podcast: [Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple](https://stenobird.com/podcast/distilled-church-finance-made-simple-7726670)
Published: 2026-06-22T20:15:41+00:00
Episode link: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/f6dcb49f4976ce9a3fceea8116dc5e23b83286756477ea937c1313ce41a915f3/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJkMjlmM2RhMy1kY2UyLTRjNmItYWI2MS1lYzBjMThhYzc0NmIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI1NGUzYmEzYi00MTg0LTRjYzEtYWYxYS04YWFkODkxOGVhNDIiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2NjlhYTE0Mzc5N2QwZjZiYjg3NWEwYmEiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmEzOTk1ZmNhMzdhZGZiNzIzODNiNzFhL21hcmtldGluZy0tcGFyYWJsZXMtc3R1ZGlvLWNvbXBvc2VyLTIwMjYtNi0yMl9fMjItNy0yNC5tcDMifQ==.mp3
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Duration seconds: 781

## Resource

Summary: Venmo, Cash App, and Zelle can make church giving feel quick and easy—but convenience can come with hidden risks. In this episode, Dan and Greg from Parable unpack why peer-to-peer payment apps can create tangled bookkeeping, donor tracking issues, tax confusion, privacy concerns, and transparency gaps for churches. They also explain the difference between personal Venmo accounts and Venmo for charities, why dedicated church giving platforms are usually safer, and how churches can transition to better systems without making giving harder for their people. One Key Takeaway: Convenience should never come at the cost of clarity, accountability, and trust. Churches need giving systems that protect donors, simplify bookkeeping, and help every dollar stay on mission. Resources Mentioned: Parable Financial Summit and budgeting toolkit: liveyourparable.com/financial-summit Recommended church giving platforms mentioned: Planning Center, Pushpay, Tithe.ly , and Overflow

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## Transcript

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